Is there a way to recruit an au pair without totally losing it

[drowninginlaundry]

Au Pair World/Greataupair - have totally given up, after spending so much time emailing/skypeing with candidates who then disappear off the face of the earth without so much as a message.

Next, an agency, one that has been recommended here many times. We live in the sticks, in a rural village. We have a child with special needs. So the first two candidates' profiles say: City, not rural. Will not look after a child with special needs. I mean, it's not hard is it? You just have to look at what boxes have been ticked by a) me and b) au pair candidates and go 'ooh look, those are the same'. My five year old could do that. And for a lot less than 300 quid.

Should I persevere with the interweb? It took me a month to find our last au pair off au pair world and just don't have the time now!

Well, I think you should complain to the agency.

Is it worth going down the 'friends of friends' route? eg. ask previous au-pairs if they now someone.

how recently have you been on AP World? We are starting the hunt(ish) for next September and there are a fair few girls who tick the box that they would looked after a SN child. But maybe you need someone earlier?

Have you tried SNAPchildcare? They specialise in placing nannies/mother's help/carers with children with SN.

I've never used them myself, but have only ever heard glowing reviews about them. I don't know if they do au pair's, but it might it be worth getting a live-in junior nanny or mother's help for slightly more. They're probably easier to recruit, should speak fluent English and will probably stay longer than a year so you don't have to go through it all again in 12 months.

In your AP world advert did you specify in addition to rural and special needs what you are offering them? Ie money, hours, holiday and facilities eg sky, wifi etc. The reason I ask is that I have found if you do this upfront then you tend to get less timewasters